Darth Vader spared jail after Jedi church attack

May 14 2008

A MAN who dressed up as Darth Vader and attacked the founder of Britain’s first Jedi church was spared jail yesterday.

The force was with Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, on March 25 this year – a little too much force.

He donned a black cape and bin bag and confronted Barney Jones with a metal crutch while Jones and his cousin, Michael, were filming themselves playing with light sabres.

The duo attained a form of fame in North Wales after national publicity surrounding their church.

Hughes, who has a chronic alcohol problem, jumped over a garden wall in Holyhead and launched the assault on the Star Wars obsessives while they filmed a documentary to promote their Jedi Church, which was formed last year.

Hughes, of Holyhead, bellowed "Darth Vader" as he hit Barney Jones over the head with the crutch and punched his cousin in the thigh.

Yesterday, at Holyhead Magistrates’ Court, Hughes was sentenced to two months in jail suspended for one year.

Hughes, who has previous convictions for assault, was drunk when he attacked the pair and did not know anything of it until the dark forces of the authorities called.

His solicitor told the court he was doing his best to win his battle with the bottle.

Frances Jones, defending, said: "He is very sorry for coming before the courts.

"He knows his behaviour was wrong and didn’t want it to happen but he has no recollection of it.

She added:"He made an early and timely guilty plea." Judge Andrew Shaw ordered Hughes to pay £100 each to the victims, as well as £60 costs, and implemented a supervision order., District Judge Andrew Shaw said : "There was a premeditated element to each of the assaults.

"Equally, there was a substantial likelihood you would be caught.

"There was a film crew present and you were caught on film. Inevitably you would be apprehended and sentenced for what you did.

"Perhaps the publicity from the last hearing has been a good thing for you, it was a wake-up call."

Mr Shaw added that Hughes had left his cape at home yesterday in favour of shell suit trousers, a striped jumper and white trainers.

He had already made good progress, according to the author of his pre-sentencing report.